S8130 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 27, 2009 DISCLOSURE OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED 3 to the Hubble, every scientific instru- those debates in the Senate, but they SPENDING ITEMS ment on the Hubble Space Telescope are debates for another day. I certify that the information required by has been made by Boulder, Colorado- Today is about honoring the crew of rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Sen- based Ball Aerospace. Ball also built STS–125. Our thanks go out to Scott ate related to congressionally directed the corrective optics to fix the tele- Altman, Gregory Johnson, John spending items has been identified in the scope’s flawed vision upon installation Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino, Andrew committee report which accompanies S. 1436 and that the required information has been in 1993. Ball Aerospace played an essen- Feustel, Michael Good and Megan available on a publicly accessible congres- tial part in the Hubble story, and I am McArthur, and all of the other Hubble sional Web site at least 48 hours before a extremely proud of the contributions it caretakers over the years. They have vote on the pending bill. has made to Hubble’s success. steadied Hubble’s gaze, sharpened its f We should not forget that there was a vision and extended its reach. Thanks time when it appeared this mission to them we can keep our eyes focused COMMENDING THE CREW OF STS– would never occur. Following the on the heavens, touch the face of God 125 Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, NASA and learn a little more about the uni- Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam initially decided to cancel all further verse and ourselves. President, today I wish to congratulate missions to Hubble, arguing that it was f and honor the crew of STS–125, who too risky. At the time, I was a member conducted NASA’s fifth and final mis- of the House of Representatives COMMENDING sion to the Hubble Space Telescope Science Committee’s Space and Aero- Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, this earlier this year. The crew—Com- nautics Subcommittee, and I strongly afternoon, I had the pleasure of joining mander Scott D. Altman, Pilot Greg- urged NASA to reconsider its decision. President Obama on the South Portico ory C. Johnson and mission specialists I believed that we should not abandon of the White House for a ceremony to John M. Grunsfeld, Michael J. the world’s greatest scientific instru- honor the Detroit Shock on winning Massimino, Andrew J. Feustel, Michael ment when servicing missions were no the 2008 WNBA championship. This is T. Good and Megan McArthur—bril- riskier than missions to the Inter- the third WNBA Championship in 6 liantly executed a mission that in- national Space Station, which NASA years for the Shock, an outstanding ac- cluded an unprecedented five was planning to continue. I was pleased complishment for the WNBA’s first ex- spacewalks in 5 consecutive days to in- that, after some deliberation, NASA pansion franchise and one in which stall two new instruments, repair two changed course and decided to go for- many across the State of Michigan others and add necessary upgrades to ward with the final servicing mission. take great pride. As one of only two extend the life of the Hubble. Most im- Hindsight being what it is, it is easy teams to win three or more champion- portantly, they returned safely to to say that continuing the Hubble serv- ships in the league history, the Detroit Earth. icing mission was the right choice to Shock is clearly a part of an elite I would like to specifically acknowl- make. But for me, it was always the group in the WNBA. edge Dr. Grunsfeld, whom I have had best option. As Dr. Grunsfeld said dur- The Shock completed a hard fought the pleasure of knowing for many ing the mission, the Hubble is about title run with a three game sweep of years. Prior to the mission, the New humanity’s quest for knowledge. Over the San Antonio Silver Stars, capped York Times referred to Dr. Grunsfeld the past 19 years, the Hubble Space by a 76–60 victory in the final game be- as the ‘‘keeper of the Hubble’’ because Telescope has opened fantastic win- fore an elated home crowd. Those in at- of his long commitment to the pro- dows into the universe. With it we have tendance, as well as those in Detroit gram, including three servicing mis- seen the pillars of creation and the and across Michigan, were pleased with sions. I cannot imagine a better care- death throes of distant stars. We have the poised performance of this veteran taker. Without him, the Hubble would seen signs of supermassive black holes team. Through persistence, persever- not be the unparalleled success it is at the centers of galaxies and evidence ance and hard work, this team defeated today. I am also thrilled that Dr. that our universe is expanding at an two quality opponents, the Indiana Grunsfeld will be joining the faculty of ever increasing rate. And we have Fever and the , en the University of Colorado at Boulder found planets similar to our own orbit- route to earning a spot in the WNBA after an extraordinary career at NASA. ing stars much like the Sun, reigniting finals. I had the pleasure of meeting with old debates that force us to ask if we Led by the determined play of Katie the crew last week. We talked about are alone in this universe. That is a Smith, the Shock maintained their the marathon spacewalks needed to in- quest we should not easily give up. focus throughout a grueling regular stall upgrades to Hubble that often re- I find it fitting that the crew of STS– season and their ensuing march toward quired on-the-spot improvisation by 125 visited Capitol Hill on the same the 2008 WNBA title. aver- the astronauts. It is a testament to the week as the 40th anniversary of the aged 21.7 points per game in the finals crew’s professionalism, teamwork and Apollo 11 Moon landing. For an agency and won the 2008 WNBA Finals Most resourcefulness that the spacewalks that has had its fair share of tragedies Valuable Player award. were so successful given such chal- and triumphs, surely the Apollo 11 mis- This championship win was yet an- lenging conditions. We also discussed sion and the Hubble Space Telescope other milestone in the storied career of what each astronaut will be doing stand out as shining examples of the head coach , who was at next—most will be returning to the as- heights NASA can reach. They are ar- the helm of each of the Shock’s cham- tronaut corps awaiting their next mis- guably the agency’s greatest successes pionship runs. He has amassed a total sion— and how the microgravity of in manned and unmanned space explo- of five professional titles, space adds an inch or more to your ration. which includes two as a player for the height. I appreciate the time they gave As high water marks of the past, . This was also the sixth me and am always honored to visit they also offer useful perspective on championship for Detroit Shock owner with these extraordinary Americans. the future of NASA. NASA is at a Bill Davidson’s Detroit sports teams. It isn’t widely known, but the State crossroads, where we must answer Fortunately, he was able to enjoy this of Colorado and NASA have deep con- questions about the future balance of championship before his recent death nections. The University of Colorado manned versus unmanned space explo- in March. receives more research funding from ration, about whether we should set Each member of the Detroit Shock NASA than any other university. Colo- our sights next on the Moon, Mars or organization made valuable contribu- rado enjoys the second largest aero- some other goal, about how to cope tions through the season and during space economy in the country, behind with completion of the International this memorable championship run, in- only California, including significant Space Station and retirement of the cluding , , endeavors in both civilian and military Space Shuttle in coming years. And we , Taj Mcwilliams- aerospace. After this final servicing must answer all of these questions dur- Franklin, , Plenette Pier- mission, which added the cosmic ori- ing the most difficult economic condi- son, , , gins spectrograph and widefield camera tions of a generation. I look forward to , ,

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The peo- record exchanges between the military cruited to fly noncombat missions ple of Michigan look forward to wit- medical and Veterans Administration under the Army Air Corps, so that nessing the Shock continue to build on systems. This is critical to ensuring a male pilots could be deployed in com- this success in the years ahead. smooth transition of care from one bat. They served as test and instructor f medical system to the other, and a pilots, towed targets for air-to-air gun- (At the request of Mr. REID, the fol- timely processing of disability and ben- nery practice and ground-to-air anti- lowing statement was ordered to be efits claims. When a soldier is injured, aircraft practice, ferried and trans- printed in the RECORD.) we incur a 50 year commitment for ported personnel and cargo, including DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION their care. I am glad that this bill parts for the atomic bomb, and simu- helps ensure that those promises made lated combat maneuvers. In short, they ∑ Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, will be promises kept. flew every type of military aircraft on our military is under an unprecedented The Senate considered many amend- every type of mission, except direct stress. Over 140,000 American service- ments during our two weeks of debate combat missions. members are deployed fighting in Iraq on this important bill. There are two Between 1942 and 1944, 25,000 young and Afghanistan. Many have made that I want to discuss in particular. American women volunteered for flight multiple deployments. Their families I am pleased that the Senate sup- training and service. Of these, 1830 are also fighting on the home front to ported President Obama, Secretary of were accepted and 1074 would eventu- live normal lives despite repeated ab- Defense Gates, Chairman of Joint ally successfully complete their train- sences of a spouse or parent. Our na- Chiefs of Staff ADM Mike Mullen and ing. Four of those who received their tion owes our servicemembers and Air Force leaders in their decision to wings were from Arkansas. their families an enormous debt of end the F–22 program. The F–22 will en- gratitude. Congress has a sacred trust Dorothy Rae Barnes, from Hot sure the U.S. Air Force is dominant in Springs, AR, graduated from Hot to provide for their needs. future air-to-air conflicts. It is a credit The fiscal year 2010 Defense author- Springs High School in 1935. She be- to engineers and technicians who de- came a WASP, she said, because she ization bill passed by the Senate en- signed and built this great plane. Ev- sures that our servicemembers on the had friends who were early WASP re- eryone involved in this program should cruits and they encouraged her to join. battlefield have what they need to be proud. However, I agree with the complete their missions come home She graduated from flight school in President that the time has come to July 1943 and, as a WASP, flew the AT– safely to their families and commu- bring F–22 production to an end so we nities. It provides for advanced ar- 6, a single-engine advanced trainer air- can channel limited dollars to fielding craft used to train fighter pilots, and mored vehicles to keep them safe from the Joint Strike Fighter as soon as roadside IEDS. It also authorizes an in- the BT–13, a basic trainer flown by possible. I support ending the F–22 at most American pilots during World crease of 30,000 additional soldiers for 187 planes, and would have voted in the Army to help reduce the strain of War II. After her wartime experiences, support of the McCain-Levin amend- she returned to Hot Springs, where she repeated Iraq and Afghanistan deploy- ment on the Senate floor to accomplish ments. still lives today. this. Geraldine Tribble Vickers Crockett, I commend Chairman LEVIN and I am also pleased that the Senate Ranking Member MCCAIN for their from Stevens, AR, became interested in voted to reject the amendment pro- flying because of an older brother, who leadership in crafting this bill. They posed by Senator THUNE to allow gun have carefully balanced many com- was a flight instructor. He enrolled her owners to carry concealed weapons in a civilian pilot training program peting priorities. They recommended a across State lines without first getting bill that looks out for the needs of our that he was teaching in Little Rock a permit to do so from the State they and it was there that she earned her men and women while also looking out are entering. The second amendment for their families. They have made private pilot license. She went into the guarantees Americans the right to bear WASPs in 1944 and, like Dorothy hard choices to cut programs that are arms. However, each state must be able not working or are no longer needed. Barnes, flew AT–6 and BT–13 aircraft. to make reasonable rules to protect After deactivation, she went on to get This is not an easy task. We should all residents and public safety officers, and be grateful for their dedication to our her instructor and commercial licenses this amendment would have made that and taught flying to veterans on the military and to our Nation’s security. impossible. It also would have under- This bill really looks out for our G.I. bill. She now lives in Palm mined Congress’s long-standing respect Springs, CA. military personnel and their families. for State’s rights to enact and enforce It includes a 3.4-across-the-board pay Betty Fulbright White, from Clarks- their own gun laws. It is no surprise ville, AR, was in the last WASP class raise, half a percentage more that large city mayors and police than requested. It increases the supple- to graduate in December 1944. During chiefs all over the country opposed this her shortened service, she pulled tar- mental subsistence allowance from $500 amendment. I would have opposed it to $1100 per month to ensure that serv- gets for gunnery practice and trans- also, and I believe the Senate did the ported cargo. After the war, she re- icemembers and their families do not right thing in defeating the Thune have to rely on food stamps. It also au- turned to Clarksville, where she passed amendment. away in 1985. thorizes $30 million in IMPACT aid to In closing, I reiterate my strong sup- Thirty-eight women died during their help communities educate military port for this bill. It puts our service- service. They were denied military kids, including $10 million for commu- members and their families first, pro- honors and their families bore all the nities hard hit by BRAC, and $5 million vides our troops with what they need costs of transporting their bodies home to help educate military kids with se- to accomplish their missions, and it and arranging for their burials. One of vere disabilities. It has been said time makes wise investments in our Na- those was Lea Ola McDonald. Lea and again, that while we recruit the tion’s security.∑ soldier into the military, we must re- McDonald was born in Hollywood, AR, tain the family. This is especially true f on October 12, 1921. She entered WASP in this time of great stress on our mili- ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS training in Houston, TX, in January tary. This bill recognizes and responds 1943 and graduated in April 1944. She to this reality. was killed less than 4 months later I am also very glad that once again, WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE while flying an A–24 attack bomber on the Senate is passing a DOD authoriza- PILOTS a practice flight at the age of 22. tion that looks out for wounded war- ∑ Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, During their time in service, these riors. This bill requires that DOD in- with Arkansas pride and heartfelt grat- women faced overwhelming cultural

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